Kisumu County is quietly redefining the future of technical education. Behind the inauguration of new Boards of Governors for ten Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) lies a deeper agenda to bridge the gap between policy and practice in Competency Based Education.
At Rotary VTC, where the boards were inaugurated, the mood was focused and forward-looking. This was not about routine appointments but a strategic realignment to link training with labour market realities and create a new generation of skilled, employable youth.
“We are not just training for certificates, we are training for transformation. Every graduate must walk out with a skill that works, a tool that earns and a mindset that innovates,” said Eng. Bovince Ochieng’, Chief Officer in the Department of Education, Technical Training, Innovation and Social Services.
Under the county’s education department, Kisumu is pursuing a structured approach to roll out CBE across its 28 VTCs which host more than 7,700 trainees. The KES 15,000 capitation grant per trainee has become the backbone of the system, supporting infrastructure, operations and curriculum alignment.
Still, implementing CBE goes beyond financing. It demands skilled trainers, relevant curriculum delivery and industries ready to absorb trainees for practical attachment. To strengthen this, the county hired 25 new VET trainers in the 2024–2025 financial year, with another 25 planned for 2025–2026 to improve the trainer-to-trainee ratio.
Continuous capacity building and sensitization on CBET are also ongoing to align trainers and boards with the new education framework.
The creation of the Sabako Centre of Vocational Expertise in Aquaculture and Akado Centre of Vocational Expertise in Automotive Engineering marks a major step in decentralizing technical excellence. These hubs are designed as models for hands-on innovation and modern apprenticeship.
They will act as pilot centres for integrating technology with practical learning, providing structured modules that blend industry experience with classroom work. Through them, Kisumu is laying the groundwork for a stronger, skills-based STEM culture.
Despite visible progress, challenges persist. Some courses still lag behind emerging technologies, especially in digital fabrication and green energy. A number of trainers need reskilling to adapt to project-based learning.
Infrastructure gaps remain in some centres, with outdated equipment slowing the pace of modernization. Limited private sector partnerships also restrict opportunities for industrial attachments, a key component in CBE’s success.
The county is strengthening partnerships with TVETA, NITA, KIRDI and private industries to align standards, expand industrial mentorships and improve technology transfer. Digital learning tools and simulation labs are part of the next investment phase.
Scaling the Centre of Excellence model to all sub-counties will promote specialization and equity, allowing each region to focus on its economic strengths such as agriculture, blue economy, or light manufacturing.
CBE is not only transforming how students learn but also how they think. The county’s focus on modern tools, innovation and digital literacy is nurturing a problem-solving culture aligned to STEM principles.
This shift is producing artisans who can adapt, code, fabricate and design for a changing world. In time, Kisumu’s VTC graduates may become drivers of local innovation rather than job seekers waiting for opportunities.
“When a learner leaves a Kisumu VTC, they should not ask where to work,” said one centre manager. “They should be ready to create that opportunity.”
Kisumu County’s journey to bridge the CBE gap is deliberate and grounded in impact. With consistent funding, modern tools, new trainers and strategic industry linkages, the county is reshaping technical education into a powerful tool for youth empowerment and sustainable development.
Its approach offers a model for other counties seeking to make vocational training a cornerstone of Kenya’s industrial growth and a key pillar of hands-on learning under the CBE and STEM agenda.
